Fabric pressing and shaping machine



A ril 28, 1959 s. PORTERA- 2,884,168

I FABRIC PRESSING AND SHAPING MACHINE Filed Dec. 5, 1957 2 Sheets-Sh eet1 o is 0 I. r L -10 E 35 g INVENTOR. STEPHEN PORTER/1 ATTORNEY April 28,1959 s. PORTERA 2,884,168

I -FABRIC PRESSING AND SHAPING MACHINE Filed Dec. 5, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet2 E1 30 ZNVENTOR.

5 TEPHE/V PORTERA ATTORNEY United States PatenfO FABRIC PRESSING ANDSHAPING MACHINE Stephen Portera, San Francisco, Calif.

Application December 5, 1957, Serial No. 700,843

3 Claims. (Cl. 223-38) This invention relates to improvements in fabricpressing and shaping machines.

The present invention is particularly adapted for use in pressing andshaping pockets of the kind which are to be sewn on coats or othergarments. The pressing machine embodies a fiat, steam-heated pressuremember for supporting a cloth pocket or other fabric article and anelectrically heated pressure plate arranged to overlie and apply adownward pressure upon the fabric article. The machine is also providedwith inwardly slidable shaping elements which are automatically actuatedto shape the fabric article by urging the edge portions thereof inwardlyover the outer edges of the pressure plate simultaneously with themovement of the pressure plate into pressure applying relationship withthe pressure member. The machine also embodies a steam chamber attachedto and movable with the pressure plate for discharging jets of livesteam upon the edge portions of the fabric article as the latter isbeing shaped and pressed. The provision of a steam heated pressuremember or plate for supporting the fabric pocket which is to be pressedand shaped eliminates the possibility of its being scorched.

An object of my invention is to provide a combined pressing and shapingmachine which is adapted to shape a fabric article automatically byturning its edge portions inwardly at the same time a pressure applyingplate is actuated into pressing engagement with a steam heated pressuremember upon which the fabric article is positioned.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel pressingmachine of the kind characterized, such machine embodying means fordischarging jets of steam upon the edge portions of the fabric articleas it is being pressed and shaped.

Other and further objects of my invention will be pointed outhereinafter or will be indicated in the appended claims, or will beobvious to one skilled in the art upon an understanding of the presentdisclosure. For the purpose of this application, I have elected to showherein certain embodiments of a pressing machine which is representativeof my invention; it is to be understood, however, that the embodimentsof my invention shown and described herein are for illustration purposesonly and that therefore they are not to be regarded as exhaustive of thevariations of the invention in the art.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevation of a fabric pressing and shaping machineembodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the machine, showing the top of theenclosure broken away;

Fig. 3 is a vertical, longitudinal, sectional view taken through themachine, showing parts of the steam cham' ber broken away and insection;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken through the machine along thelines 4--4 of Fig. 1, showing the pressure members in pressure applyingrelationship with respect to a fabric article; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig.

Referring to the drawings, a suitable supporting structure is shown ascomprising a plurality of legs 1, side members 2, and a top panel 3. Thetop panel is formed with a rectangular opening 3a beneath which issupported a box-like steam compartment or chamber 4 supplied with livesteam from a suitable source by a conduit 5. An outlet conduit 6 for thesteam is connected to the lower side of the compartment 4, therebyeffecting the circulation of hot steam through the compartment tomaintain the upper side 4a thereof suitably heated. The upper side ortop 4a is substantially flat, thereby providing a substantiallyhorizontal pressure plate and support for the cloth pocket A or otherfabric piece which is to be pressed and shaped.

Underlying the top panel 3 is a flanged horizontal support 7 upon whichtwo (2) crease forming plates 8 adjustably rest. The crease formingplates are arranged to provide a substantially U-shaped structure, theinner edges of which extend inwardly with respect to the sides or edgesof the opening in the top panel 3. The crease forming plates 8 areslidably supported on the flanged support 7, and they are normally heldin a retracted or outwardly adjusted position by a plurality of springs9. The crease forming plates 8 are simultaneously moved inwardly bymeans of an adjustable member 10 which is formed with inner divergingforward edges engaging with the converging rear edges of the creaseforming plates 8. The adjustable member 10 is adapted to be shiftedforwardly by a pivoted lever 11 which is pivotally attached as at 12 toan elongated adjustable bar 13 overlying the top panel 3 and the openingin the latter. When the bar is in a downwardly adjusted, substantiallyhorizontal position, the lever 11 is adapted to be moved pivotally tobring its lower end into pressure engagement with the rear end of theadjustable member 10, as shown in Fig. 1, thereby causing the saidmember 10 to shift forwardly to actuate the crease forming plates 8forwardly and inwardly against the tension of the springs 9. The inneredges of the creaseforming plates will thereupon be moved to positionsextending inwardly above the lateral and rear edges of the top 4a of thesteam compartment. A tension spring 14 extending between and connectedto the upper end portion of the lever 11 and the bar 13 is adapted toswing the lever about its pivot 12 to a position in which its lower endno longer engages with the adjustable member 10. The springs 9automatically return the crease forming plates 8 rearwardly andoutwardly when the lever 11 no longer exerts a forward pressure on themember 10. 1 Y

Secured to and carried by the bar 13 is a metal steam chest or box 15having its interior supplied with live steam by a conduit 16 connectedto a suitable source of supply. Outlet openings 17 arranged in spacedrelation along the lateral and rear sides of the steam box adjacent thelower side thereof are formed to direct-live steam downwardly andoutwardly. Metal plates 18 overlying and contacting the upper side ofthe steam box 15 are connected by electrical conductors 19 to a sourceof electricity. A rectangular pressure plate 20 mounted on andunderlying the steam box 15 is electrically connected to the source ofelectricity through the box 15, the metal plates 18 and the conductors19. The electrical current heats the steam box 15 as well as thepressure plate 20, and an asbestos insulating pad 21 overlying the upperside of the .steam box provides some measure of protection againstpossible burns from contact therewith. The forward end portion of thebar 13 is pivotally supported as at 22 on an upright member 23secured tothe supporting structure. A tension spring 24 extendingbetween and 3connected to the forward end of the bar 13 and a leg. 1 urges the rearend of the bar upwardly.

The size of the pressure plate is such that it is adapted to move freelyinto and out of the opening 3a inthe top side- 3- of the supportingstructure. The pressure plate 20 corresponds substantially in shape tothe opening 3a although it is slightly smaller than the latter. Theplate 20 is arranged in combination with the top 4a of the steamcompartment to provide means for pressing a pocket or other fabric pieceA when the latter is extended over the top 4a, this relationship beingeffected when the rear end of the bar 13 is swung downwardly by manuallypulling the upper handle end of the lever 11 downwardly.

The steam chest 4 may be stationary or it may be adjusted upwardly to aslight extent when the pressure plate 20, is moved downwardly intopressure applying relationship therewith. As illustrated, the steamchest is preferably supported on the upper ends of a plurality ofadjustable screws which extend through threaded openings in a pair oftransverse bars 26 and 26a which are adjustably suspended from thehorizontal support 7 by means of vertical screws or threaded rods 27 andadjustable nuts 28. A lever 29 extending beneath the steam chest 4 andhaving an upturned forward end member 30 is adapted to be actuated bymeans of a depending rod 31 connected to a foot pedal (not shown) sosuch end member engages centrally with the bottom of the steam chamberand urges the latter upwardly a slight distance. The lever 29 is securedby a screw 2% to the transverse bar 26a, which in turn is loosely andpivotally mounted on a pair of depending screws 27. A spring 32 returnsthe rear end to its normal upward inactive position, thereby carryingthe end member 30 to a disengaging position with respect to the steamchamber.

Suitable control means indicated generally at 34 is adapted to bemanually operated to inject a charge of steam into the steam box 15 whenit is desired to discharge such steam in the form of a plurality of jetsthrough the openings 17 in the sides of thebox and onto the upturnededge portions of the fabric piece A.

It is to be noted that the pressure plate 20 is so attached to the steambox 15 that its edge portions are spaced from the bottom side of suchbox. When the pressure plate is in its downwardly adjusted position, itis positioned below a plane extending horizontally through the creaseforming plates 8, thereby making it possible to project the platesinwardly so their inner edges extend above the outer edges of thepressure plate as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. A tension spring 35 connectedto and extending between the rear end of the adjustable member 10 andthe lever 29 pulls the said adjustable member rearwardly when it is nolonger urged forwardly by the lever 11.

The steam box 15 is so mounted on the bar 13 that it isself-a'djusting,thereby insuring a uniform contact of the pressure plate 20 with thefabric piece A extending over the top 4a of the steam chest 4.

In practice, the fabric piece A, which may be intended for a coat pocketand is larger than opening 3a, is extended over the upper side of plate4a of the steam chamher 4. The pressure plate 20 is moved downwardlyinto pressing relationship with respect to the plate 4a, thereby firmlypressing the fabric piece A between them. The edge portions of thefabric piece are turned up as such edge portions engage with the sidesof the opening 311 when the pressure plate moves downwardly upon thefabric piece. At the same time, the steam chamber 4. is urged upwardlyby pressing the foot pedal (not shown) associated with the lever 29. Asthe fabric piece is pressed betweenthe plates, 20.. and 4a, the handleof the lever 1 1 is pulled rearwardly to actuate the adjustable member10 forwardly, thereby causing the crease forming plates 8 to slideinwardly and forwardly into engagementwiththeupturned edge. portions ofthe fabric, piece A. As the plates 8 continue to move inwardly andforwardly, the edge portions of the fabric piece A are pressed inwardlyand into engagement wtih the edges of the pressure plate 20. At thistime, jets of steam are discharged from the outlet holes 17 in the steambox against the edge portions of the fabric piece by suitablymanipulating the control means 34. The live steam upon engaging with thefabric piece moistens it sufficiently to enable a U- shaped crease to beformed therein where it is turned over and held against the edges of thepressure plate. The crease thus formed in the fabric piece provides aguide when such piece is stitched to a coat or other garment. Thepressing and creasing operation also shapes and presses the fabric piecepreparatory to its being sewn in place.

Since the pressure plate 4a is steam heated rather than electricallyheated, it will not scorch the fabric piece even though such fabricpiece might remain in contact therewith for an appreciable length oftime.

The crease forming plates 3 are guided in their inward and outwardmovement by means of upwardly extending screws or projecting members 36secured to the flanged support 7, the said projecting members extendingthrough obliquely disposed slots 37 in the plates 8. As shown by thebroken lines in Fig. 2, the crease forming plates 8 are adapted to moveinwardly to positions in which their inner edges are above the edgeportions of the plate 4a. The adjustable member 10 is prevented frommoving rearwardly beyond a predetermined position by a stop member 38which is adapted to abut the rear side of the supporting structure.

What I claim is:

1. In a pressing and shaping machine, a supporting structure having asubstantially horizontal top panel wall having an opening therein, asteam chamber mountedon the supporting structure and underlying theopening and having a substantially flat top forming a first pressureplate for supporting a fabric piece, steam inlet means connected to thesteam chamber, steam outlet means connected to the steam chamber, asecond pressure plate mounted on the supporting structure and arrangedfor movement through the opening and into pressing relationship with thefirst pressure plate, a pair of substantially horizontal crease formingplates mounted on the supporting structure beneath the top panel andarranged. for movement into engagement with the edge portions of thefabric piece as the latter is pressed between the first and secondplates, a steam box connected to and movable with second plate, thesteam box having a steam inlet and a plurality of peripheral steamoutlet openings arranged to discharge jets of steam against the edgeportions of the fabric piece as the latter is pressed between the firstand second pressure plates.

2. In a pressing and shaping machine, supporting structure having asubstantially horizontal top panel wall having an opening therein, asteam chamber mounted on the supporting structure beneath the opening,the steam chamber having a flat, substantially horizontal top forming afirst pressure plate for supporting a fabric piece, steam inlet andsteam outlet means connected to the steam chamber, a second pressureplate mounted on the supporting structure and arranged for movementthrough the opening and having a shape corresponding to but slightlysmaller than the opening, the second pressure plate being mounted formovement into pressingvrelationship with the first pressure plate, asteam box COIl'. nected to and movable with the second pressure plate,the steam box having a steam inlet opening and a plurality of spacedoutlet openings arranged in the sides thereof, and a plurality ofsubstantially horizontal crease forming plates mounted on the supportingstructure be heath-the horizontal top panel and arranged for inwardmovement and outward movement, the said crease forming plates beingadapted to extend slightly above the edge portions of the secondpressure plate when positioned at the end of their inward movement.

3. In a pressing and shaping machine, a supporting structure having asubstantially horizontal top panel having an opening therein, a steamchamber mounted on the supporting structure and underlying the openingand having a flat, substantially horizontal top forming a first pressureplate for supporting a fabric piece, steam inlet and outlet meansconnected to the steam chamber, an adjustable bar mounted on thesupporting structure for upward and downward swinging movement and to aposition overlying the top panel and the opening therein, anelectrically heated second pressure plate secured to and carried 'by thebar and arranged for movement through the opening and having .a shapecorresponding to but slightly smaller than the opening, the secondpressure plate being adapted to overlie the first pressure plate whenthe bar is in its downwardly swung position, a steam box carried by thebar and mounted above the second pressure plate, the steam box having asteam inlet and a plurality of peripheral steam outlets arranged todirect jets of steam outwardly and downwardly, a plurality ofsubstantially horizontal crease forming plates mounted on the supportingstructure beneath the top panel and arranged for inward and outwardmovement, the crease forming plates being adapted to extend slightlyabove the edge portions of the second pressure plate when in a positionat the end of their inward movement, a slidable pressure member engagingwith the crease forming plates and arranged for reciprocating movementto and from a position actuating the crease forming plates inwardly, anda lever mounted on the bar and arranged to engage with and actuate theslidable pressure member in a direction whereby the crease formingplates are moved inwardly.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,466,860 Thomas Sept. 4, 1923 2,238,048 Gilbert Apr. 15, 1941 2,281,970Gilbert May 5, 1942 2,453,623 Gilbert et al Nov. 9, 1948 2,673,666Silverman Mar. 30, 1954 2,726,020 Fenby Dec. 6, 1955

